Hospital Armed Security Guards – A Growing Trend

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With mass shootings on the rise in the US, hospitals, not just schools, are planning for their facilities to be targets. Some hospitals are choosing to arm their security guards to deter crime. Of course, most hospitals don’t all visitors or non-security personnel to carry weapons of any kind of hospital property. In some cases, all guards are armed and in other cased not all guards on duty carry handguns. Typically, the guns are worn on utility belts. However, some hospitals are considering concealed carry for some security personnel.

Hospital armed security guards need range training and classroom training. All security guards must not use unnecessary force when dealing with suspects. So, hospital security guards have to justify the use of force. For example, in order to use their handgun as defense, another person or the officer would have to be physically in danger and there be no other way to subdue the suspect or protect individuals.

The hospital security officers may also carry pepper spray, pepper foam, tasers, batons and handcuffs. Some hospitals allow guards to carry chemical agents, tasers and batons, but not handguns. A security guard should have training in how to use these items before being allowed to carry them on duty.